Community Responds to Challenge Grant, Helps Feed Needy Families

Fresh produce and bread to be distributed to impoverished families served by HSP's Feed the Kids ProgramHumanitarian Service Project

Rebecca Megchelsen

The Humanitarian Service Project (HSP) recently received a grant of $425 from the Feinstein Foundation after participating in the Feinstein Challenge last spring. The Feinstein Challenge is a national fundraiser that benefits non-profit organizations devoted to combating local hunger. Each year, the Feinstein Foundation sets aside one million dollars to divide among non-profits across the country. The more food or funds an organization raises to fight hunger during the challenge, which lasts from March 1st to April 30th, the bigger the portion of the one million dollars they receive. This year, HSP collected 23,934 lbs of food through donations and food drives during the two-month challenge, and therefore received $425 to use to help end local hunger.

The Feinstein Foundation, a charitable organization based in Rhode Island, holds the Feinstein Challenge every year. The goal of the challenge is to support organizations who are already involved in fighting hunger in their communities. Donations of funds and non-perishable food items both count in the challenge. The goal of the grant is not just to benefit non-profits by giving them money directly, but also to help motivate organizations and individuals to join the fight against hunger. HSP has been participating in the challenge since 2003, and this year earned more funds from the challenge than any other year.

The grant from the Feinstein Foundation will go directly to funding HSP's annual Feed the Kids program. Through the Feed the Kids program HSP supplies 100 families (approximately 375 children) with 150 lbs of nutritious groceries during each of the summer months of June, July, and August. During the school year many of these families rely on the subsidized lunch programs, leaving them in great need of nutritious food during the summer. Each family received 15 varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables, 3 boxes of non-perishables weighing 25 pounds each, 7 frozen meats, 4 loaves of Pepperidge Farm bread, and nutritious snacks.

About The Humanitarian Service Project:

HSP's mission is to alleviate the pain and suffering that poverty creates in seniors and children living in DuPage and Kane counties, Illinois. Last year during the Christmas Offering Project, 1,636 children received gifts and 150 impoverished families received three weeks of non-perishables, bread, frozen meats, and fresh produce. With the Senior Citizen Project, HSP provides a monthly grocery delivery and secret pal gifts to 123 low-income seniors. The Children's Birthday Project reaches the youngest underprivileged, making birthdays and Christmas truly memorable occasions for 900 children. Feed the Kids provides 100 low-income families with grocery deliveries including fresh produce, non-perishables, bread, and meat during the summer months. HSP conducts an annual school supplies drive that benefited a total of 5,200 children by giving supplies to the DuPage Back to School Fair and directly to schools and individual children.